Appreciation is extended to The Board of General Activities, of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, for permission to use such material as originally appeared in The New York Masonic Outlook, and to R .·. W .·. Thomas C. O'Donnell, Editor, and to R.·. W .·.
People Who Read Books too seldom read the preface, so this chapter is intended to take the place of a preface for the Brethren who may wish to know why book was written.
When in 1922 I was Master of Pocahontas Lodge, No. 211, in Seneca Falls, the thought never came to that there might be a correct and an incorrect way to introduce a District Deputy Grand Master on the occasion of his official visit, or any other Grand Lodge official who might favor my Lodge with a visit. Nor was I particularly conscious of the fact that there was such a thing as Masonic etiquette, as we know it today.
From the day I was appointed District Deputy Grand Master in 1924 I have heard District Deputies state that in their respective Districts no two Lodges receive them alike. Indeed, in some Lodges there was such a lack of formality as almost to rob that office of much of its dignity.
Then, too, the floor work of the Lodges was by no means standardized, each Lodge seeming to have its own particular procedure in this respect. That there must be a strict adherence to the spoken word as set forth in the ritual there was no doubt.
And so with many other matters pertaining to the work of the Lodge. Not so many years ago I was amazed to discover that a Lodge need not be opened to conduct a Masonic funeral. What caused this astonishment was the fact that we had always opened Pocahontas Lodge to conduct a Masonic funeral. In other words, I was more or less provincial, due to my experience in only one Lodge.
Nor was this the only matter that caused me considerable astonishment. I know that each of member of my Lodge had his own individuality, and that one must recognize those various personalities to have the Lodge run smoothly. So when I became District Deputy Grand Master of the District of Ontario Seneca Yates, I made the further discovery that each Lodge has its own individuality, just as people do.
Since my first appointment as Grand lecturer twelve years ago I have made the further discovery that each District in the State has its marked individuality, and that many Lodges proceeded in their own way in connection with many of the forms and ceremonies of the Lodge. One of the great tasks that confronted me in this office was to impress upon the minds of the brethren that there was a right way of doing certain things, and that to be right we must all conform, that the ritual was the same for all Lodges, and that the floor work and the etiquette were also the same for all.
In order to further this matter of standardization, and that all might become imbued with the idea that there was but one correct way of conferring a Degree, or of opening and closing Lodge, this little volume is written as an aid to Brethren who desire to inform themselves concerning correct methods of doing work in a Masonic Lodge. This does not mean that there has been any change in the work - it simply means that we are bringing to the notice of Brethren everywhere certain matters concerning which they had not been previously informed, or on which too little stress has been laid. We might call this book, therefore, "A Hand-book for Lodge Officers."
Another thing I have striven to do is to
give each Officer some idea of self-development. Perhaps they
may think it strange that a man starting in as Marshal in the
line of his Lodge may develop himself spiritually, intellectually
and socially by the spelling of what is known as "going through
the chairs." It is perfectly true that all knowledge is correlated,
and that when a develop man develops along one line he is certain
to develop along others. For example, if he learns as how to be
a good Senior Deacon he is developing along the line of self-discipline
so essential in every walk of life. If he be a good Master his
experience is certain to be reflected in his daily vocation. He
who learns how to order the affairs of a group of men in an organization
that all is harmonious within that group has certainly tremendously
in the matter of dealing with people
whom he meets in business, on the street, or socially. It may
be truly said that Freemasonry is a builder of men, and in this
way becomes a tremendously important factor in the fashioning
of lives and in the building of character.
Then, too, I have tried to demonstrate the possibilities for becoming a good Junior Deacon or a good Warden, that those Brethren who some day find them selves in the East may govern wisely. I often hear our older Brethren express the opinion that the Worshipful Masters of today are not of the same caliber as those in days gone by.
I can not agree with this. Never has there
been a time in the history of the Grand Jurisdiction of the State
of New York when there were so many facilities at the fingertips
of him who wishes to be an efficient Master. I believe that today
the Worshipful Masters are the equal of those of any day, and
my experience with these men all over the State leads me more
and more to be convinced of this. Everywhere I discover the desire
to do things as they should be done; every
where I find an appetite for knowledge, particularly along Masonic
lines; the question Brethren ask in Conventions and at Schools
of Instruction conducted by the Assistant Grand Lecturers bear
this out.
And so, my Brother, here is this little
volume, written the hope that it may be of real service to you
and to the Brethren of your Lodge. To you it is dedicated, for
it is you and thousands of Brethren like you, at whose feet I
have sat while you have taught me, unaware that you were imparting
to me so much in the way of spiritual and intellectual richness.
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